Blade wheel



BLADE WHEEL Filed 0st.

y Patented Aug. 2.1, 19,28.`

ERNST SCHNEIDER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

BLADE WHEEL Application filed (lctober 18, i926, Serial N0.

My invention relates to blade wlieels for propllers, turbines, turbine pumps or the like apparatus.

Various constructions have hitherto been proposed for a blade wheel, acting as a propeller, having movable blades which are turned continuously by a guiding mechanism according to a definite law so as to obtain a definite direction of drive. In the majority of these known blade wheels, however,

the blades are not admitted at all points in a correct manner from the aero-dynamical or hydraulic point of View whilst it is also impossible to alter the direction of drive and pitch, apart from the fact that the wheels are only adapted for low velocities of revolution.

A propeller construction recently proposed allows of an alteration of the direction of drive but in this case the pitch is not variable. '.lhe blades make a half-revolution labout their own pivotal axes on each revolutionof the wheel, so that the inlet and outlet edges 'of the blades interchange after cach revolution, which necessitates the bla'de being given a shape which can never absolutely meet the aero-dynamic and hydraulic requirements. A lateral thrust must be set up in this propeller, as in similar previously known constructions, on changing over from 'forward to reverse.

Guiding mechanisms are also known which move bearing or blade surfaces so that the angle of approximately 90 between each surface and a radius vector, always remains constant, the latter passing from the pivotal point of the surface through a point lying in the plane of the circular path of the pivotal point but outside of this circle. The disadvantage of' this construction vin which the guiding point of the radius vec-l tors lies outside the circle on which the pivotal points ot' the blades move is, that extensive regulation', as will be described later, is impossible. In addition, constructions of this type are also not adapted for highspeed propellers.

My invention provides a blade wheel having pivoted blades, in which the angle between each blade and a radius vector proceedingt'rom its pivotal point to a pre-deter-` lregulation in man 142,293, and in Austria December 7, 1925.

mined point, preferably 90, remains `conm stant so that vthe radius vectors of all the blades intersect during the rotation of the blade wheel in one point or'approximately 55 in one point. This point, -or the place which the radius vectors approximately in tersect, lies according to my inventionwith"m in the lcircular path of the pivotal points and on a line which passes through the cen- (tu ter of the wheeland is normally substantially perpendicular to the line of relative translatory movement between the blade and the surrounding medium. The blade wheel is accordingly particularl adapted for very high velocities of revo ution and also for respects. The .guidin mechanism may o course be so constructed -that this guidingypoint may be displaced in a circle about the axis of rotation of the 7o wheel, and also radially in all directions inside the circle formed by the path rotation of the pivotal points of the blades. `When these two displacements are simultaneously allowed for, combined displacements also. may be edected.

In accordance with my invention, I .provide a blade wheel wherein a line drawn kthrough the guiding point and the center of the 'wheel is always in normal. operation 3@ substantially perpendicular to the line of relative translatory movement between the wheel and the surrounding medium. Furthermore I provide a blade wheel wherein the guiding point is so disposed with respectr tothe wheel center, that the resultant force of the Wheel during normal operation under load is directed along a line parallel to, or colinearwith, the line of,relative translatory movement between theA wheel and the surounding medium. As a. result I am enabled to obtain smooth and correct admission to the working surfaces of the blades land efficiencies which are considerably better than any attained by the forms of screw propellers and pump and turbine .rotors now "in use.v

A more detailed explanation of the idea ot my invention will be given in conjunction with the diagram shown in the drawlo@ ing. A circle K is the path in which, in consequence of the drive of the blade wheel,

the pivotal points P of a number of blades M rotate about the axis O, say in the direction of the arrow on the circle K. As can be seen from the drawing, radius vectors S, proceeding from the pivotal points l? perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the positions of the blades at any given moment of their revolution about the axisO, intersect in the point N which lies inside thek circle K. It is sufficient inpracticeif the radius vectors intersect approximately only in a point. c The blades `M .are so guided Yor controlled thatthey are'turned, as their pivotal ,points move aroundthe circle K, in such a manner that the radius vectors proceeding from their `pivotal points and perpendicular to the blades'pass through the point N lying inside the circle.

This can be accomplished for example by rigidly connecting the blades with rods, running in the direction of the said radius vectors S, and passing through a pivotal sliding guide arranged at the point N. It is obvious however' that the regulation of the blades M as thus described can be varied considerably and can be carried out kinematically in other ways.

The drawing shows in Fig. l a diagram of the wheel and the regulating movements, in Fig. 2 a mode of execution of such a wheel in a sectionalview and iu Fig. 3 a plan view of this wheel from below.

As may be seen from Fig. 1, the blades are tangential to the circle K at both ends of the diameter on which the point N is located; in intermediate positions vthe blades cut 'the circle K at different angles, one edge E of the blade always being in front and the other edge A to the rear of the direction of motion. The medium surrounding the blade wheel will therefore always come' into contact with the blades at the edge E, and leave the edge A free, so that it is possible to give the blades a suitable section in accordance with the required dynamic principles. lIf a blade wheel of this type 1s set in rotation in a medium, a flow is set up in the direction fv, and the triangle of velov cities shown in dotted lines on the left hand bottom blade M, composed of the rotational velovity u ofthe wheel, which runs at right vangles lto the radius r, the relative velocity fw running at right angles to the radius vector S' and the velocityof flow fv on free running, shows that the control of the blades mentioned at all points allows of a smooth admission. 1

- Furthermore, the line passing through the guide pointN and the center O of the wheel 1ssubstantially perpendicular to the line of ow'fv of the medium. If the point N is rotated through an angle such as p to N* the line passing through this latter point and v the centerO `will be perpendicular to the newline of the flow.

The distance@ of the guiding point from the center of the wheel may be varied, as has been explained, and can be expressed approximately by the equation: i

thev value1-,gatl normal load differing, of

course, from'the value ofgat no load to the extent which is usual with propellers, turbines, pumps or the like.

The blade wheel then acts as a screw propeller of known type with a free running velocity corresponding to the pitch and velocity of revolution of the screw. It is of course possible to ensure smooth admission also with different loads by suitable choice of the positions and size of the blades.

If the guiding mechanism for the blades .is so arranged that the point N whilst remaining at the same distance a. from the axis of rotation O is displaced through an angle (p so as to reach the position N", each blade M will first be displaced in its momentary position to M", and then, on further rotation of the blade wheel the blades assume positions at the various points of the circle, in consequence of the directions of the radius vectors SX, which would have r'esulated if the whole drawing had been turned through the angle p in the same4 direction as the point N. The blades will therefore again be tangential to the circle K at the two points which lie at the ends of the diameter through the point Nx and will assume the same intermediate positions in between these points as previously, with the exception that these intermediate positions must also be considered as having been displaced through the same angle (p about the centre O.

It results therefor that the direction of flow o is also turned through the .angle (p to om and also the direction of drive opposed to the flow. The direction of drive can therefore be altered to any suitable angle by rotating the point N about the axis O.

The guiding mechanism may however also be constructed so that the point N can be -displaced in a suitable radial direction inside the circle K, first reaching the axis and then passing beyond it into the position N. When the guiding point N coincides with the axis O, all the blades remain tangential to the circle'during the complete rotation of such' blades and the velocity o will be zero when a='0 in View of the fact that S lao ' revolution remains constant.` lThis reversal is effected by radial displacement of the point N without any lateral thrust or' disturbance. A disturbance of this sort would however loeI caused by reversing the direction of drive by quick rotation of the point N about the central point 0 through an angle of 180o. v

By combining these two kinds of regulation i. e. rotation of the guide point N about lthe axis O and radial or diametrical displacement of the point N, all necessary regulations can be effected very simply in the manner most advantageous at any moment.

A blade wheel of this type can also be used as a turbine, in which the velocity of revolutionof the wheel can be altered, the velocity of flow remaining the same, and

,l the direction of rotation can be reversed, by

radial or diametrical displacement of the guiding point N.

The construction of a wheel of this type andl also its controlling mechanism may, Las already mentioned, be carried out in various Ways.

A mode of execution of such a' wheel with three blades is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The wheel 1 is provided with three bearings 2 for the pivots 3,4, 5 of the blades 6, 7, 8.' To each pivot is fixed va guiding rod 9, 10,11 in such a manner that each rod projects from its pivot ina right angle to the appertaining blade. Each rod 9, 10, 11 is provided withy a slot 12, 13, 14 and through all these slots passes a bolt 15 which forms the common point of intersection of the three rodsj 9, 10, 11. This bolt 15 is fixed to an angle-shaped carrier 16 the one end of which is formed as' a nutand the nut engages with a screw 17 carried 1n a radial direc-tion by an arm 18 fixed to the hollow shaft 19.. This screw is rotatably borne in eyes 20 and 21 of the free end of the arm 18 and of the Hange 23 of the hollow shaft 19 and carries a toothed wheel 24 engaging with a toothed wheel 25 of the shaft 26 passing through the yhollow shaft 19.

If the shaft 26 is rotated by a hand wheel or the like (not shown) the screw 17 is driven by means of the toothed wheels 25 and 24. and, as the nut-shaped end of the carrier 16 is prevented from 'being taken with the. rotation `ofthe screw it is forced to be moved along the screw, radially inwards or outwards as may be thesenseof Athe rotation of the screw. 17. In consequence thereof also the bolt is moved in a radial the bolt 15 the relativeposition of the rods 9, 10, 11 and .therewith also the relative position of the blades 6, 7, 8 is a1tered,with the exception of that rod which itself lies in this moment in the same radius on which the bolt'is moved, thisrod (in the drawing rod A i 9 beincr not iniiuenced b the dis lacin of ai@ bolt 15. y p, g

The hollow shaft 19 may also be rotated by a hand wheel or the like (not shownin the drawing) and takes with it the arm 18 supporting' the screw 17 and the carrier 16 with the bolt 15. Therefore this bolt is turned around the axis of the wheel 1 which coincides with the centre of the circular path 27 of the pivots 3, 4, 5 of the blades 6, 7, 8. Also by this rotating displacement of the bolt ,15 the relative position of the rods 9, 10, 11 together with the blades 6, 7, 8 is altered.

If the shaft 26 and the hollow shaft 19 are rotated at the same time the bolt 15 is moved simultaneously in a radial direction and tumed around the axis of the wheel and since each shaft 19 and 26 may be rotated in both senses it is obvious that the bolt'l may be displaced within a circular area in all directions and in a different measure.

The wheel 1 is connected to a hollow shaft 28 which may be driven by a motor (not shown) if the wheel acts as a propeller. The

displacement of the bolt 15 and therewith in the last instance of the blades 6, 7, 8 may be carried out during the4 rotation of the wheel and in this way'the direction and speed of propulsion may be varied and also the reversal of the ropulsion (by diametrical movement of tlie bolt 15) may be obtained without stopping the driving ofthe wheel 1.

If the wheel acts as aturbine-motor the hollow shaft 28 works on a mechanisrn'fory driving machines of any kind.

Whereas I have shown a thoroughly prac` tical and operative device, it will be realized that many changes might be made in the s -i size, shape, number, disposition and relation of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore wish the description and drawings to be. taken asy ina broad sense illustrative. rather than aslimiting me to the specific form or forms described and shown.

That I claim is:A l 1. The combination with a blade Wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps or theJ like, having a plurality of individually pivoted blades movable relatively thereto, of guiding mechanism connected to each of said blades,

i said Wheel and the surrounding medium.

2. The combination with a blade Wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps or the like, having a plurality of individually pivoted blades movable relatively thereto, of guiding mechanism connected to each ot' said blades, and control means for moving said blades relatively to each other operatively connected to said guiding mechanism and adapted, during the rotation of said Wheel, to maintain the intersection otl the radius vectors, erected'perpendicular to the blades at their pivots, in a small area serving substantially as a point within the circular path of the pivotal points of said blades and on a line passing through the center of said wheel and during normal operation under load substantially perpendicular to the line of relative translatory movement between said wheel and the surrounding medium.

3. Apparatus as set forthin claim 1 7 characterized by control means adapted to move said point of intersection in a circular path concentric to the circular path of the pivotal points of the blades.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claimA 1 characterized by control means adapted to move said point of intersection along a diameter of the circular path of the pivotal points of the blades.

5. Apparatus ais set forth in claim 2 characterized by control means adapted to move said small area of intersection in a circular path concentric to the circular path of the pivotal points of the blades.

o. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 characterized by control means adapted to more said small area of intersection along a. diameter of the circular path of the pivotal points of the blades. l

T. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 characterized by control means adapted to move said point of intersection in a circular path concentric to the circular path of the pivotal points of the blades and also along a diameter of said last named circular path.

S. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9. In a blade wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps or the like, the combination of a wheel with bearings arranged in a circle around the axis of the Wheel, blades With pivots laying in the said bearings of the wheel, for each blade a rod connected to it and proceeding perpendicularly to the blade, a guiding device common to all rods, allowing the rods to swing and slide at the time in such a manner that the middle-lines of the rods intersect in one point situated within the circular path of the pivots of the blades.

10. In a blade Wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps or the like as set forth in claim 9, the combination of the said guiding device for the said rods with a device for moving this guiding device in diametrical directions.

11. Inl a blade wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps or the like as set forth in claim E), the combination of the said guiding device for the said rods with a device for turning this guiding device around the axis of the wheel.

12. In a blade Wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps or the like as set forth in claim 9, the combination of the said guiding device for the said rods with a device for moving this guiding device as Well in diametrical directions as around the axisof the Wheel.

13. In a blade Wheel for Propellers, turbines, pumps or the like, the combination of a Wheel with bearings arranged in a circle around the axis of the Wheel, blades Wtlr pivots lyinn in the said bearings of the wheel, for each Iblade a rod connected to it and proceeding perpendicularly to the blade, a guiding device common to all rods allowing the rods to swing and slide at the same time in such a manner that the middle-lines of the rods intersect during all revolutions of the Wheel in one point situated Within the circular path of the pivots of the blades,

the said guiding device being carried by a.

carrier, a second guiding device for diametrically guiding the said carrier, means for moving the carrier along the said second guiding device. y

14. In a blade Wheel for propellers, turbines, pump or the like as set forth in claim 13, each rod is provided with a longitudinal slot and the guiding` device for the rods consists of a bolt protruding through the slot of all the rods, this bolt being supported by the said carrier.

l5. In a blade Wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps of the like, the combination of a Wheel with bearings arranged in a circle around the axis of the Wheel, blades with pivots lying in the said bearings of the wheel, for each blade a rod connected to it and proceeding perpendicularly to the blade, a guiding device common to all rods allowing the rods to swing and slide at the same time in such a manner that the middle-lines of they rods intersect during all revolutions of the wheel in one point situated within the circular ath of the pivots of the blades, the said gui ing device being carried by a 'carrier and a second guiding device for turning the said carrier around the axis of the Wheel.

16. In a blade wheel for propeller-s, turbines, pumps or the like as set forth in claim 15, each rod is provided with a longitudinal slot'and the guiding device for the rods consists of a bolt protruding through the slots of all the rods this bolt being supported by the said carrier.

17. In a blade wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps or the like as set forth in claim 13, the combination with a guiding device for guiding the said carrier in diametrical direction as well as around the axis of the wheel.

18. In a blade wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps or the like as set forth in claim 13, each rod is provided with a longitudinal slot and the said guiding device for the rods consists of a bolt protruding through the slots of all the rods, this bolt being supported by the said carrier, a second guiding device for diametrically guiding the said carrier and a device for turning this second guidingl device around the axis of the wheel.

19. In a blade wheel for propellers, turbines, pumps or the like, the combination of a wheel with bearings arranged in a circle around the axis of the wheel, blades with pivots lying in the said bearings of the Wheel, for each blade a rod connected to it l and proceeding perpendicularly to the blade,

each rod being provided with a longitudinal slot, a bolt situatedwithin the circular path of the pivots of the blades and protruding through the slots of all the rods, an angleshaped carrier supporting the said bolt, the one end of the said angle-shaped carrier being formed las anut, a screw arranged in a diametrical direction, this nut engaging this screw, an arm carrying the said screw, a hollow shaft lying in the hollow shaft of the wheel, the first named hollow shaft supporting the said arm, so that this arm together with the screw. the'carrier and the bolt may be turned by this hollow shaft, a shaft situated within the first named hollow shaft and means for transmit-ting rotations of the ylast named shaft to the said screw, the rotations of this screw producingr a dianiterical movement of the said carrier with its bolt.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the distance between said point of intersection and the center of the wheel is during normal operation under load\substantially equal to the product of the radius of the wheel and the relative translatory speed of the wheel at noload dividedbythe peripheral speed of the wheel at no load.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 characterized by the precision of control means adapted to maintain the intersection of the radius vectors at such a point with respect to the center of the wheel that the rusultant force of the wheel during normal operation under load is directed along a line colinear with the line of relative translatory movement between the wheel. and the surrounding medium.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.,

SCHNEIDER, ERNST. 

